s the bushes directly
ahead caught his eye, he threw up his arms and seized them.

The next instant the canoe was whisked from under him, leaving him
clinging to the frail support, shrieking with terror and bobbing up and
down on the waves. He remained in this position only a few seconds.
Clay's canoe struck him obliquely, and the concussion caused it to swing
broadside and upset. Both lads were rolled over and over to the foot of
the rapids, where Ned helped them and their canoes to shore.

CHAPTER IX

A SAFE SHELTER

For a moment the three wrecked Jolly Rovers could only stare blankly at
their dripping clothes, and at one another. The whole thing had taken
place so quickly that they did not as yet realize the extent of the
misfortune.

Finally Ned and Clay broke into a hearty laugh, while Nugget sat down on
a rock and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Hullo, there!" cried a familiar voice, as Randy appeared from behind a
patch of bushes a few yards down the shore. "Great Caesar! what a mess
you fellows are in!"

"Thanks to you," replied Ned. "Why didn't you come up the creek and warn
us?"

"That's just what I was on my way to do, 'pon my honor it was. I
couldn't get here a minute sooner. I upset in that beastly place myself,
and was carried down below those bushes. Look at that!" Randy pointed to
his muddy feet and wet clothes. It was evident that he was speaking the
truth.

"Well, what's done can't be undone," said Ned. "We must make the best
of it. I'm afraid, the water has spoilt a good deal of our stuff."

"You can count yourselves lucky if your canoes aren't injured," rejoined
Randy. "The rocks tore the keel nearly off of mine, and it leaks like a
basket."

"Then we are in for a long delay," exclaimed Ned vexatiously. "It's
unfortunate just at this time, when we ought to be four or five miles
farther down the stream."

"You won't think so when I show you the place I've found," replied
Randy. "We could camp there for a month, and no one would be any the
wiser. It's over on the left shore where the current first landed me. I
had a look at the spot and then waded to this side with the canoe."

"The first thing is to get dry clothes on," returned Ned. "The morning
air is too cool for comfort."

"Down below here is just the place you want then," said Randy. "A big
gravel bar. The sun shines on it beautifully."

This statement brought a smile even to Nugget's face, and without delay
the boys